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October 26, 2018
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Voters face choices in upcoming election
Five questions to be on ballot
by Lora Whelan

 

     Maine voters will face five referendum questions on the Tuesday, November 6, ballot, including four bond issues, with two to assist the state's universities and community colleges, and a proposal to create a home-care program funded by a tax on higher incomes.

Home‑based assistance initiative
     Question 1 is to create the Universal Home Care Program, which would provide home‑based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens, regardless of income. It would be funded by a new 3.8% tax on individuals and families with a Maine wage and adjusted gross income above the amount subject to Social Security taxes, which in 2018 is $128,400.
     Mainers for Homecare notes that over 60 organizations have endorsed Question 1. In addition, it says that the Muskie School for Public Service at the University of Southern Maine has released an implementation plan if the referendum should pass, including how existing waiting lists for services would be eliminated, federal matching funds would be increased and 27,000 Mainers, most going without care, would have access to needed home care services.
     The Home Care and Hospice Alliance of Maine is opposed to the proposal for three reasons. First it believes that there is no means test and no residency requirement, "a very low threshold" that is held much higher for most of Maine's home care programs. However, Mike Tipping, communications director for Mainers for Homecare, says that, while the language was kept simple, no study has shown that non‑residents would come to Maine for a short period of time to receive home care. "You don't have to prove residency to receive home care," but the applicant does have to live in the state, he says.
     Secondly, the hospice alliance states that the referendum violates patient privacy because those receiving services would have their information shared with constituency organizations. Mainers for Homecare does not agree, stating, "This initiative goes beyond the requirements of state and federal privacy laws. Even basic contact information for caregivers and care recipients necessary to participate in board elections is only shared on a voluntary basis."
     The Home Care and Hospice Alliance also believes that the new board that would be created by the referendum would not be directly accountable to the legislature. Again, Mainers for Homecare does not agree, stating, "The home care fund will be overseen by a democratically‑elected board representing care workers, care agencies and seniors and Mainers with disabilities and their families." It adds, "The home care board is similar to many other governmental boards in Maine, including the Maine Potato Board, for one example. Under Maine law, the potato board is a governmental entity, is subject to audit and review and receives funding from a tax set in statute."

Wastewater treatment systems
     Question 2 is for a $30 million bond to improve water quality, support the planning and construction of wastewater treatment facilities and assist homeowners whose homes have substandard or malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems.
     The bond funds would be divided into three different program areas. Distributed to municipalities would be $2 million in the form of grants to help replace failing septic systems that are polluting coastal watersheds or causing a public nuisance.
     Municipalities would receive $27.65 million as grants to cover from 15% to 25% of the costs of planning pollution abatement facilities and up to 80% of the cost of constructing such facilities.  Priority would be given to areas with high‑value shellfish resources.
     In addition, $350,000 in grants would be issued to homeowners to help with the cost of eliminating residential overboard discharge systems and replacing them with technologically proven alternatives. The grants would cover costs on a sliding scale based on annual income up to a maximum of $125,000. Grants would only be available to systems that serve a homeowner's primary residence.
     No public comments were filed in opposition to the bond.

Transportation infrastructure
     Question 3 is for a $106 million bond that would tackle construction, repairs and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities and equipment related to ports, piers, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, culvert and stream crossings, aviation and transit, bicycle and pedestrian trails. Highway work would include parts of Route 1 and Route 9 in Washington County. No specific funding is earmarked for the Port of Eastport. The bond would be matched by an estimated $137 million in federal and other funds.
     No public comments were filed in opposition to the bond.

University upgrades
     Question 4 is for a $49 million bond to be matched by at least $49 million in private and public funds to modernize and improve the facilities and infrastructure of Maine's public universities. The goal is to expand workforce development capacity and to attract and retain students to strengthen Maine's economy and future workforce.
     University of Maine at Machias Head of Campus Andy Egan explains, "If passed, Question 4 will bring $3.05 million to the University of Maine at Machias for much-needed campus maintenance and improvements, including major renovations to science labs, helping us keep pace with student interest and Maine jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines."
     No public comments were filed in opposition to the bond.

Community college upgrades
     Question 5 is for a $15 million bond that would improve educational programs with upgrades to facilities at all of Maine's seven community colleges. The goal is to provide access to high‑skill, low‑cost technical and career education.
     Tina Erskine, director of human resources, development and communications at Washington County Community College in Calais, says that WCCC would benefit by receiving $885,853 from the bond. "These funds will renovate and expand instructional laboratories, for information technology system upgrades and for investments in instructional technologies."
     No public comments were filed in opposition to the bond.

 

 

 

 

 

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